Short Summary

The Republic of Niger celebrated the sixteenth anniversary of its declaration of independence on Wednesday (18 December) and to mark the occasion the Head of State, Lieut-Colonel Seyni Kountche, presented medals to a number of leading civilian and military figures in the capital, Niamey.

Description

The Republic of Niger celebrated the sixteenth anniversary of its declaration of independence on Wednesday (18 December) and to mark the occasion the Head of State, Lieut-Colonel Seyni Kountche, presented medals to a number of leading civilian and military figures in the capital, Niamey.

Accompanied by a number of ministers and other government officials, President Kountche arrive din Niamey's Place de al Republique early in the morning and reviewed a detatchment of paratroops drawn up in a guard of honour.

Then, after inspecting the guard, the President presented commemorative medals to the Prefect of Niamey, the Mayor of the town and to the adjutant of the paratroop regiment.

President Kountche heads a 12-man Military Council which took power in Niger in April this year, after a bloodless coup which deposed the former regime of President Hamani Diori.